5 March 2013 — Information Clearing House
Washington Steps Up Africa Intervention
By Bill Van Auken
While the US-French intervention in Mali has been cast as a humanitarian venture aimed at rescuing the Malian people from Islamists, the reality is that the war has unleashed immense human suffering. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34184.htm
Obama Is Not “Bluffing” About His Willingness to Attack Iran: Biden
Video
Biden said the Obama administration would not back down from its pledge to intervene militarily should all other options fail.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34180.htm
What If a Drone Attacked in the US?
A White Paper Justification
By Camillo Mac Bica
“This just in: Iran has utilized its newly developed drone capability to execute three members of the Mujahedeen e-Khalq (MEK), aka the People’s Mujahideen of Iran, a terrorist organization responsible for killing and injuring many hundreds of Iranians. The strike took place early Tuesday morning in a suburb outside Cleveland, Ohio.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34185.htm
Syrian Rebels Pull Down Statue of Hafez al-Assad’s
Video
– Warning –
Video contains images depicting the reality and horror of war and should only be watched by a mature audience.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34174.htm
President’s Support for Israel Found Wanting by Many Voters: Poll
By Lara Seligman
Just 13 percent of respondents say the president’s policy toward Israel is too supportive. A full 39 percent said Obama is not supportive enough.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34179.htm
Israel And America:
The “Special Relationship” That Isn’t
By Dr. Alan Sabrosky
Perhaps the best way to think of the US–Israel relationship today is not that it is “special,” but rather that it is “unique” – the end product of a concerted effort over decades by a domestic Fifth Column which has effectively captured the US Government from within.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34177.htm
Kerry Continues Tradition of Appeasing Saudis
By Amitabh Pal
This constant show of respect to the Saudi monarchy is a travesty, since Saudi Arabia is a famously repressive theocracy, with an almost complete lack of rights for its people.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34182.htm
The US is the Don Corleone of International Politics
By Adrian Salbuchi
WikiLeaks recently published new documents showing that US global intelligence corporations like Stratfor worked hard in a failed attempt to overthrow Venezuela’s democratically elected president.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34176.htm
Shadow Lives
Continual harassment against a largely helpless population
By Victoria Brittain
How the War on Terror in England Became a War on Women and Children.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34183.htm
If Guantanamo Prisoners Stage a Hunger Strike, Does Anybody Care?
By Adam Clark Estes
“More detainees have died at the camp (nine) than have been convicted of wrongdoing by its military commissions (six).” And some of these prisoners died without even getting the chance to defend themselves.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34178.htm
American Atheist President Blasts Bigoted Newt Gingrich
By Eric W. Dolan
It’s not OK if somebody is a bigot or somebody is hateful because the Bible says he should be. He is still immoral.”
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34175.htm
Frozen To Death
Video
Homeless man Daniel Gauntlett dies frozen and alone on doorstep of empty house.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34181.htm
Hard News
Military operation kills ten suspected militants in Pakistan:
Ten suspected militants were killed and their three hideouts destroyed on Tuesday during a military operation in northern Pakistan.
Someone else is hitting al-Qaeda with drone strikes in Pakistan: U.S.:
After the most recent round of high-profile drone strikes in Pakistan, the local government blamed the U.S. and lodged a protest. But the U.S. denies that it was responsible, and is suggesting that Pakistan may be behind the attack.
4 insurgents killed, 8 detained in Afghanistan:
Up to four insurgents have been killed and eight others detained in different operations carried out by Afghan forces and the NATO-led coalition troops, in the latest raids against insurgency in the war-hit country, the coalition forces said on Tuesday.
France says 15 “militants” killed overnight in Mali fighting:
About 15 Islamist militants were killed by French and Chadian troops in fighting overnight in northern Mali’s Ametetai valley, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Tuesday.
Morsi mulls army takeover of Port Said:
Egypt’s president said to be considering whether to give army full control of restive city after days of deadly clashes.
Iraq attacks kill 13:
Two car bombs targeted police in the restive northern city of Kirkuk, killing five and wounding at least 18, while gunmen killed a town council member and a North Oil Company employee south of the city, police and a health official said.
British inquiry shown graphic evidence of Iraq torture:
A public inquiry in London into allegations that British soldiers killed, mutilated and tortured Iraqi detainees after a battle in southern Iraq was shown gruesome photographs of bloodied corpses on Monday.
Iraq accuses Qatar of financing jihadi groups in Syria:
Iraq‘s national security advisor, Faleh al-Fayyad, said Monday that Qatar and other Arab countries, along with nongovernmental groups, are financing Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian jihadi group, with the acquiescence of Turkey. “These are the same sources that finance al Qaeda,” Fayyad said through a translator.
Massacre of Syrian Soldiers in Iraq Raises Risk of Widening Conflict:
More than 40 Syrian soldiers who had sought temporary safety in Iraq from rebel fighters along the border were killed on Monday in an attack by unidentified gunmen. At least seven Iraqis were also reported killed in the attack, which appeared to be the most serious spillover of violence into Iraq since the Syrian conflict began
Syrian rebels battle regime holdouts in Raqqa:
Syrian warplanes struck captured security buildings in Raqqa Tuesday, casting a pall over the northern city a day after euphoric rebels seized much of it and captured the provincial governor, one of the highest-ranking officials to fall into rebel hands, activists said.
Kerry confirms US training Syrian rebels:
American Secretary of State John Kerry confirmed Tuesday in Qatar that the US was conducting off-site training of Syrian rebel forces, and that many nations were involved in the campaign to assist the opposition.
Gulf arms to Syria rebels reaching ‘right people’: Kerry:
“We had discussions about the type of weapons that are being transferred. We are aware of what people are doing,” Kerry told reporters in Doha at a press conference with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem Al-Thani.
Russia: Syria Internal Conflict Expands beyond Country:
The internal conflict in Syria has begun to expand to other countries, creating a threat to their security, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Aleksandr Lukashevich warned on Tuesday.
Israel warns it cannot “stand idle” as Syria war spills over border:
Israel warned the U.N. Security Council on Monday that it could not be expected to “stand idle” as Syria‘s civil war spills over its border, while Russia accused armed groups of undermining security between the states by fighting in a demilitarized zone.
Kerry says Iran closer to nuclear weapons:
In an interview with ABC News in Doha, Qatar, Kerry acknowledged Tuesday that despite continued diplomacy and tough economic sanctions against Iran, the regime continues to get closer to possessing nuclear weapons.
US aims to support Israeli defense systems despite budget cuts:
“Secretary Hagel is committed to working with members of Congress to ensure that there is no interruption of funding for Iron Dome, Arrow, and David’s Sling rocket and missile defense systems,” a US defense official said.
Full texts of AIPAC speeches:
Speeches delivered by the key speakers at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) annual conference in Washington DC this week
Pollard clemency petition reaches 103,000 signatures:
More than 103,000 people have signed a petition calling on President Obama to free imprisoned spy for Israel Jonathan Pollard.
Israel preparing propaganda gestures to Abbas ahead of Obama visit:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may transfer small areas of the occupied West Bank to the Palestinian Authority as a goodwill gesture, Israeli media reported Tuesday.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=571615
Israel’s ‘Palestinian Only’ Apartheid Buses Set On Fire :
Unknown arsonists set buses belonging to Israeli transportation company Afikim alight late Monday in the Arab village of Kfar Qassem. “Two buses were apparently set on fire but we are looking into all possibilities,” police spokeswoman Luba Samri told the news agency.
Israel’s Separate Bus Line For Palestinians: ‘Freedom Rider’ Provides First Hand Account:
Video – “We tried to ride an Israeli bus, and while we stood at the bus stop we were cursed at, we were basically abused in different ways by Israeli settlers,”
UK diplomat flees W Bank university:
Demonstrators banged and kicked a car carrying Consul General Sir Vincent Fean as he hurriedly left the campus amid fears for his safety.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21666919
Gaza marathon axed after Hamas bans women:
UNRWA officials said more than 800 people, nearly half of them women, had signed up to participate in this year’s race, which runs the entire length of the coastal territory and was to have taken place on April 10.
US Drones in Yemen causing a ‘psychological emergency’, psychologist tells MPs:
Dr Schaapveld said that of the 28 victims interviewed, approximately 99% had some type of traumatic disorder. The constant presence of drones means that residents are consistently re-traumatized and recovery is nigh on impossible.
Saudi Arabia delays execution of seven facing crucifixion and firing squad:
Security official says king will review sentences handed to group for armed robbery
North Korea vows to cancel Korean War ceasefire;
North Korea vowed Tuesday to cancel the 1953 cease-fire that ended the Korean War, citing a U.S.-led push for punishing United Nations sanctions over its recent nuclear test and ongoing U.S.-South Korean joint military drills.
US Embassy Officials Expelled from Venezuela, Government Warns of “Conspiracy Plans”.:
Vice-president Nicolas Maduro today denounced destabilisation plans by the international and local right wing, announcing the expulsion of two US officials for threatening military security. He also implied that Chavez’s cancer was “caused by enemies of Venezuela”.
http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/8031
Chavez’s condition worsens, ‘very delicate’ state: Government:
The condition of cancer-stricken Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has worsened as the leftist leader suffers from a new and severe infection and his breathing has become more difficult, the government said.
US denies ongoing Guantanamo hunger strike:
America’s infamous Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba has reportedly become the scene of a widespread hunger strike – now in its third week – yet on Monday a prison spokesman denied that any such activity was taking place.
http://rt.com/usa/us-guantanamo-hunger-strike-824/
Mexico’s disappeared:
The full human cost of Mexico’s bloody drug war during the last six years is only now becoming apparent. Nearly 70,000 people died and more than 26,000 went missing between 2006 and 2012. A scathing new report by Human Rights Watch casts substantial blame for the problem on the country’s security forces
The ‘war on women’ isn’t over yet:
Despite the election results, efforts are still underway to restrict US women‘s access to healthcare and contraception
Can the new EPA chief stop Obama approving the Keystone XL pipeline?:
Gina McCarthy’s promotion at the EPA will not allay fears that a recent State Department report means KXL is now a done deal
Cost Of War
Number Of Iraqis Slaughtered In US War And Occupation Of Iraq “1,455,590“
Number of U.S. Military Personnel Sacrificed (Officially acknowledged) In America’s War On Iraq: 4,883
Number Of International Occupation Force Troops Slaughtered In Afghanistan : 3,258
Cost of War in Iraq & Afghanistan
Total Cost of Wars Since 2001
$1,429,727,579,390
The New Dark Age 